ABSTRACT
Air pollution concentration measurement in Poland are routinely carried on using aspiration methods. This technique required suitable measurement point preparation and its monitoring. During last years passive monitors are used more and more frequently for some air pollutants concentrations measurement. The above mentioned method is recommended when spatial differentiation of air pollution are analized. Results of such measurements carried of in the area of Poznan are presented in this contribution.
Subject(s)
Air Pollution , Air , Environmental Monitoring/methods , Nitrogen Dioxide/analysis , Sulfur Dioxide/analysis , Humans , Models, Theoretical , PolandABSTRACT
The air pollution concentrations of SO2 and suspended particulate matter in 1993 in one Polish city Poznan and over entire Poland have been modeled and mapped. The data for Poznan were obtained during special epidemiological study by means of a dense network of passive samples and the data for Poland were obtained from the routine network operated by Sanitary Epidemiological Stations. The modeling employed the kriging method of ARC/INFO computer package. It was found that about 1/3 of Polish population was exposed to the SO2 and/or SPM level that exceeded annual recommended values. In Poznan 25% of children aged 8-9 years were exposed to SO2 level above 100 during heating season 1992/1993.
Subject(s)
Air Pollution/analysis , Environmental Exposure , Child , Computer Simulation , Environmental Monitoring , Humans , Models, Theoretical , Particle Size , Poland , Seasons , Sulfur Dioxide/analysisABSTRACT
The susceptibility of the Neurospora crassa (slime) cellular membrane to electroporation and electrodestruction in an alternating electric field was further investigated. The results were analyzed according to the dynamic rheological model of the cytoplasmic membrane. Based on an analytical description of membrane susceptibility to electroporation, the rheological parameters of the foregoing process in N. crassa cellular membrane were found: they closely resemble those previously determined for the membranes' destruction. This suggests that both processes are temporally related and are induced within the same structures of the membrane. The dependence of the destruction of the membrane on the time of application and the frequency of the electric field was theoretically predicted and experimentally confirmed.
Subject(s)
Cell Membrane/chemistry , Models, Biological , Biophysical Phenomena , Biophysics , Electricity , Electroporation , Neurospora crassa/chemistry , Rheology , ThermodynamicsABSTRACT
The purpose of the analysis was to evaluate an association between selected factors of home environment and respiratory symptoms (wheezing/whistling) and asthma diagnosed by physician in 4333 children of age 7-8 years in Poznan. The data were collected within the scope of the EU funded multinational SAVIAH study. It was found that presence of the symptoms as well as asthma were significantly associated with presence of damp spots and/or mould at home and disturbance by traffic fumes and/or noise at home. The association of respiratory symptoms with ETS and presence of pets was less clear.
Subject(s)
Asthma/etiology , Environmental Pollutants/adverse effects , Animals , Child , Environmental Monitoring , Female , Humans , MaleABSTRACT
Within the framework of international collaboration an epidemiological study has been carried out in Poznan with the objective to develop and assess new methodologies in environmental epidemiology in Poland. The network of passive samplers has been set up for estimation of SO2 and NO2 air pollution exposure, small area analysis methods and Geographic Information System will be used for assessment of the relationship of respiratory symptoms and air pollution while controlling for socioeconomic factors and household characteristic.
Subject(s)
Air Pollution , Child Welfare , Child , Family , Health Surveys , Humans , Poland , Socioeconomic Factors , Surveys and QuestionnairesABSTRACT
Recently proposed analysis of the extensil stress developed in a cellular membrane subjected to an alternating electric field (Pawlowski, P., and M. Fikus, 1993. Bioelectrorheological model of the cell. 4. Analysis of the extensil deformation of the membrane in an alternating field. Biophys. J. 65:535-540) was applied in calculations of extensil stress threshold values, sigma eo[d], producing experimentally observed electrodestruction of cells within the frequency range of 7 x 10(1) - 3 x 10(5) Hz. It was shown that the susceptibility (s[d] = 1/sigma eo[d]), of the membrane to this process varies with field frequency and depends on the type of cells. Electrodestruction is facilitated in the 10(5)-Hz field. A rheological hypothesis explaining the experimentally observed dependence of membrane stability on electric field frequency was proposed and successfully tested for two other phenomena: electroporation and electrofusion.